Improved animal-teap



TO`ALL WHOM ITMAY CONOERN:

@einen tat-2s gat-ent @filth- Irtraovrny ANIMAL-TRAP.

dlp Srlpmle maar tu im tipa Enters what :mi mating gaat at tlp4 tutti..

'Be it known that LJ. W. CHURCHILL, of Pittston, in the county of Luzerne, and State of Pennsylvania,

have `invented a new and improved Animal-Trap; and I do hereby declare .that the following is a full, clear, l and exact description thereof, which will enable those skilled in` theart to maire and use the same, reference` being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

This invention relates to a new and improved animal-trap, of `that classwhich are commonly termed selfsetting; and it consists of a peculiar construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully shown and described, whereby a very simple and efficient tra-p of Vthe class specified is obtained. In the accompanying' `sheet of drawingsi Figure 1 isa plan `or top view of my invention partly in section. 'Figure 2, a transverse vertical section of the4 same, taken in the line :t x, iig. 1.

Figure 3, a longitudinal vertical'section of the same, taken in the line y y, iig. `1.

Similar letters of reference indicata-corresponding parts.

A B represent the boxes, of quadrilateral form, and secured toa base-piece, so as to bepermanently oonnected together. These boxes may be provided wit-h sliding glass tops a a, and one of .the boxes A has a plat' form, secured to the exterior of two oi' its sdesLand a platform, c, is placed within box A' at one side, a hole, f d, being made in one side of said box to admit of an animal passing through it into the box from the platform p b to platform vc. Besides the hole cZ, there is another one, e, of the same size, made in the same side of thebox and C isa door or slide by which either of the holes d or c may be covered or closed, one being open when the other is closed. The lower end of the door or -slide C is connected to the upper endfof abent lever, D, which ,p works on a pivot, f, and has its lower part extending through a notch, g, in the lower edge of the box A. The

bottom of this box A is composed of a platform, E, hinged or jointed at h, and it has a rod, "z, attached toits free or disengaged end, which rod extends through the notch g,`and passes throughthe lower` end ot'` a linlgj, the upper end of the latter being connected to a pivoted bar, F, which has a weight, Gron its outerend; the

weight Gr having a' tendency to keep "the hinged bottom E raised to its fullest extent. '.llhelbox Blhas` a parti'-` f tion, k, fitted vertically within it, said partition extending down below a tilting or balance passage, H, one end `of which is directly in front of the hole e in the side of box A." `This passage is provided-with pivots or journals p l, which are fitted in bearings m, attachedto box B, the passage H passing through a hole inB, and extending the whole length of the chamber formed by the partition 7c in B. The passage E in B is not covered, nor is it required .to be g, it is only covered at the exposed part between A B. The exposed end of the passage Hhas a pendent-rod, I, attached, the lower end of which isl bent so as to projectunderneath the ends of the rod s', 'and bent lever D, (see iigs. 2 and 3.) v v v u VWhen the trap is first set, the door c is over the hole e, which is in line with the passage H, and the animal cani pass from platform?) through the hole D upon platform c, and'then return again in'fact pas-s in andvout frombox A without any diiliculty whatever. This` prevents suspicion, and the animal4 being reassured," will spring from platform c down upon the bottom E, in search of food, which may be placed on E or in any'portion of b ox `A or B. In springing on the bottom E, the door C is closed over the hole bythe action of the rod i on the bent lever D, and egress from box A is` not allowed the animal, which immediately passes into H, the

hole e being uncovered as d is covered. The animal, in passing throughH, tilts, by its own gravity, thc uncovered" end of 4H within box B downward, the outer end of H being thereby elevated, and the lower end of the rod I raising the'rod t', and the lower end of the bent lever D, so that the door C will be thrown back over the hole e,`

and the platform E elevated, the holed` being uncovered to admit a succeeding animal. The animal, as the passage in box B is depressed or tilted down, jumps into the large compartment formed by the partition k, a

notch being made in the lower edge of the partition 7c to admit of the animal passing through. The outerpor covered part of the passage H tilts downward as soon as the animal jumps oif from its uncovered part, the covered part being slightly thc heaviest, and resting against a stop, u. `'lhewcight G of rod I; serves as a counterpoise forvthc platform.

It will be. seen, therefore, that the device is self-setting,'is simple in construction, and' economical to construct.

I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patet- 1. The pvoted passage H, arrangedin relation with the two boxes A B, the door C, ,and the two holes d e in box A, substantially inthe manner as and for the purpose Vset forth.

' 2., The hinged platform E, counterpoised as shown, and provided with'the rod z', in combination with the pendentqod I attachedto the passage H, :md the bent lever D, to which the door C is attached, dll being arranged to operate in the manner silbstantally as and for the purpose specified. I

3. The platforms b e, in combination with the two holes d e, and the passage H, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v

\ J. W. CHURCHILL.

Witnesses:

JAMES SEARL, W. H. STETLER, 

